Module 8: Voice of Courage During Modernism

The ultimate question of this module is this: What is the American Dream? The traditional goals of achieving a happy, fulfilling life after hard work and dedication were challenged in the wake of a country experiencing devastation from war and economic collapse. In this module, you have examined how the age of Modernism developed and the new forms of literature that it cultivated. You also looked at how the American Dream manifested itself into the very marrow of American culture. How does the quest for this dream shape the lives of Americans today? Is the dream alive today, and is it even possible to achieve? Or is this dream just a reminder of what once was or can never be?